HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-08-24 Public Comment - R. Sanchez - No To The Guthrie ProjectFrom:ronglea
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]No To The Guthrie Project
Date:Thursday, April 4, 2024 8:19:17 PM
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There are so many reasons to reject HomeBase’s proposed Guthrie project on North Fifth.
It’s clear they have taken advantage of the Affordable Housing exemptions. This project is not
affordable. I can not afford to live there on my Social Security. This is just another job to fillAndy Halloran’s pockets at tax payers expense.
Where do I start.
Parking: There is a law in physics that says two objects cannot occupy the same space. There
is no available parking on North Fifth between Villard and Peach. During the day there areparents loading and unloading kids, buses and the lunch delivery truck. During the winter
there is even less space with snow piled up. A casual survey of the neighborhood shows thereis the case in every direction. 39 spaces for his building is insane.
When I owned a restaurant in town, we were required to have seating for our occupancy. If we
didn’t we could pay the city $1200 per space for the privilege of street parking. Andy get’s apass so he can increase his profit. The promise that most of his tenants won’t have cars is
laughable. The city was happy to put the squeeze on a small family business, but will give thefarm away for a rich developer. I guess I didn’t grease the right palms.
Traffic: It’s hard to believe the city believes our neighborhood streets can handle a massive
increase in traffic. The stretch between Villard and Peach is not a major artery. The idea of aflood of traffic at rush hour flowing that way is unrealistic. I live across from Whittier school.
When I need to go shop at the Coop, I wait until after the rush. I drive at the slowest speedpossible to get to Peach. I’ve encountered too many parents dashing across the street with kids
in hand. Parents load and unload kids on the street side. I’ve had kids on bikes fly out frombetween parked cars. You get my point. Imagine the daily caravan of heavy machinery, dump
trucks. cement trucks and more….
Trying to turn left onto Peach most any time of the day requires patience. At rush hours, I’dnot even try. Add to the traffic leaving the Guthrie will be the residents of the massive project
on North Third. Peach is a major route in Bozeman, part of what should be seen as the ringroad in Bozeman. Peach has semi trucks coming from the lumber yards over on Broadway.
They pay no attention to the school zone speed limit. I followed a Three Rivers truck the otherday that had no intention of obeying the school zone speed limit on Peach. Maybe some traffic
cops patrolling the area and handing out those expensive tickets is in order.
Try going south. Once you get to Mendenhall, it’s a blind intersection. People race down thatstreet at 40mph or more. I stopped trying to cross that intersection after I nearly got T-boned
by a car pulling out of a parking lot I couldn’t see.
So where could the cars leaving the Guthrie exit to? Villard at Seventh is the only option, butthe only option is a right turn north on Seventh…
Construction Traffic: The thought of fully loaded trucks passing in front of Whittier is
frightening. I know the drivers are told to be aware, but when the demands of a constructionschedule are there, things don’t go as planned.
I will cite a personal experience. When they were pouring the foundations for One 11, I was
traveling east on Villard to Willson. I was heading to the post office. At the intersection ofVillard and Grand, a fully loaded Knife River cement truck blew through the stop sign. If I
hadn’t been paying attention, I would not be here today. My widow might now own KnifeRiver and HomeBase . The driver saw me slam on the brakes with a look of horror. He
realized he’d fucked up. I called Knife River and had a very firm discussion with thedispatcher. Frantic parents and excited kids might not be so aware of those construction trucks
racing down Fifth. Think about it. It’s on your hands.
HomeBase and their contractors have already shown their carelessness with the sloppy anddangerous asbestos remediation work.
The Guthrie and the possibility of buying the church property across the street are not suitable
for a single family neighborhood. This is a dormitory for the employees of Captain Andy’sfolly. Affordable housing is a different matter, and much needed in this town. This is just
another money grab draped in hollow talk about helping the community.
The City Of Bozeman would be more than irresponsible to approve this project. Of course it’snot in their neighborhood. It’s in mine and I join my neighbors saying NO to this give away to
a man who is fully capable of paying his way and paying his full share. Our city fathers needto think long and hard about this decision to destroy a neighborhood that is the model of a
tight close knit family community.
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Ronald SanchezDirector Of A&R
Career Records